Apple's Last MacWorld and the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas: 01/05/09

MacWorld begins today, kick-starting the year's biggest week for laptop, TV, robot, and gadget news from MacWorld in San Francisco and the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Popular Mechanics will bring you continuous coverage from both MacWorld and CES. The events this year promise to bring tides of change to the consumer electronics world, starting here at MacWorld where Apple has announced its retirement from the event and Steve Jobs will be absent from the keynote.

Oct 1, 2009

January has always been the most important time of the year for digital tech—both the Consumer Electronics Show and MacWorld traditionally happen this month—but some major tides are shifting this year that will affect both shows and may change many established high-tech truths.

MacWorld kicks off first today. This show has a long tradition of big splashy product launches (most famously, the iPhone was launched here in 2007), and there is an expected launch tomorrow of an update to the oft-ignored Mac Mini. But this MacWorld may be remembered more for what wasn't there (or, more accurately, who wasn't there) rather than what was. Apple CEO Steve Jobs will not be giving the keynote this year, sparking rumors of deteriorating health or possibly an imminent departure from the company that he brought from near failure to astounding success. Instead of the iconic dear leader, Apple VP of product marketing Philip Schiller will take the stage on Tuesday. Indeed, Apple has announced that this will be its last MacWorld ever, leaving a show that is dedicated to Apple's computers to run without the computer maker itself. All rumors point to Apple leaving the show with a whimper—no big intros of iPhone nanos or new iMacs—but there is always a chance for a surprise. Nevertheless, we will be there, covering the end of an era for you live from the keynote address.

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One of the traditional big draws at CES, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, will not be in Las Vegas for that show, either, but that was hardly a surprise, since much was made last year of his final appearance and his formal retirement from the company. Microsoft's current CEO, Steve Ballmer will deliver this year's CES keynote and should formally introduce Microsoft's largely anticipated new operating system, Windows 7. (Although it should be noted that much of the anticipation is based in disappointment over the current OS, Vista.) Popular Mechanics' own senior technology editor Glenn Derene will also be presiding over one of the events at CES—admittedly, not on as large a stage as Ballmer—moderating a panel on home automation in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center this Thursday.

However, keynotes and conferences aren't the big news at this show, new products are. And this year is shaping up to have a slew of new laptops and netbooks, as well as thin TVs, new home networking gear, portable media players, robots, cameras, Blu-ray players, game systems, home theaters, camcorders and all the other gizmos that widen the eyes of tech enthusiasts. We'll be covering them all from the show floor with our usual army of reporters, then picking the best of the best on January 8th at our Editor's Choice Awards.

But this being the Consumer Electronics Show, the other big news is likely to be how consumers themselves will react to all of this new stuff in a miserable economy. Will any of these gadgets generate enough excitement to get consumers rushing to the stores like they have in the past? Will technology companies shift their products to match the national mood, and refocus on affordable electronics? That would be a major change, but maybe a necessary one for the overall future health of the industry. We'll be watching, so should you. Tune in to Popular Mechanics all week for regular updates. —Glenn Derene

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